West Bengal Cold Storage Association Voices Concerns over Potato Market Price & Loss to the Farmers & Cold Storage Industries
Sanchita Chatterjee, Kolkata, 25th July, 2025: The West Bengal Cold Storage Association, the only active association of cold storages in the state, today held a press conference at the Press Club, Kolkata, to draw the attention of the Govt. consumers, and the general public to the large gap in price of potato at the wholesale and retail markets in West negative impact on the by: Sri. Sunil Kumar Rana, President of WBCSA; Sri. Subhajit staa, Vice President of WBCSA; Sri. Gobind Kajaria, Treasurer of WBCSA; Sri. Rajesh Kumar Bansal, Ex-President of WBCSA; Sri. Patit Paban De, Sri. Tarun Kanti Ghosh, Past Presidents of WBCSA; Sri. Dilip Chatterjee, Sri. Pradip Lodha, Sri. Kaushik Executive Committee Members and other eminent members of the Association. Kundu, Chairman of District Committees of WBCSA; Sri. Swarup Kumar Nayek & SK Jiaur Rahman,In this year 70.85 lakh metric tonnes potato was stored in the cold storages of West Bengal, potato production has traditionally been consumed in a 60:40 ratio, with 60% consumed within the state and the remaining 40% traded with other states. But due to the ban on the inter-state movement of potato in last season, approx 10 lakh metric tonnes potato of early variety was also stored in cold storages, that's why cold storages are record loaded.Considering the situation the State Govt. declared minimum support price of Rs 9/kg for the farmers. Being encouraged with the Govt. declaration the farmers sold the harvested crop as well as preserved some of their stock for selling in future. About 75% to 80% of the stock preserved this season belongs to the farmers. At the start of the unloading season (in the month of May' 25), the released stock was trading at the Govt. declared minimum support price of Rs. 15/kg but within 2 weeks gradually it came down to Rs 11/kg to Rs. 12/kg (for dala quality at Singur wholesale market) in Hooghly District & Rs. 9/kg to 10/kg (for average quality) in Burdwan, Bankura, Medinipur districts & North Bengal in the cold storage gate (i.e. wholesale price) This situation is hurting the farmers directly as they are subjected to a loss of Rs 400 to Rs 500 per qtl. There is serious apprehension that unless the situation is improved and loss to the farmers arrested, cultivation and production of crops will be impacted negatively and there will be imbalance in demand vs supply in near future. Eventually it will cause huge damage to the rural economy and the cold storage industry will also suffer as fall in production of potato will result in underutilization of cold storage space and impact the viability of the store units. On this occasion, Sri. Sunil Kumar Rana, President of West Bengal Cold Storage Association, said, "The current disparity between wholesale and retail potato prices is unsustainable and is directly harming the farmers, who have stored nearly 80% of the crop this season, and also threatening the viability of the cold storage industry. We urge the Government to step in urgently with supportive measures such as procurement at minimum support price, promotion of inter-state trade, and incorporation of potatoes in public welfare schemes like mid-day meals. Without timely intervention, not only will the rural economy suffer, but the entire ecosystem of potato cultivation and storage in West Bengal could face a severe crisis." As a recovery measure, the government proposed to boost potato consumption and stabilize prices by including plans to promote inter-state and international trade of potatoes. Additionally, a transport subsidy will be introduced to encourage potato trading beyond Bengal.